Unidentified Funny Objects 5 contains, again, a series of humours Sci-Fi/Fantasy stories. This time, my favorites were “The Trouble with Hairy”, in which David Gerrold explores using computer models to solve traffic congestion. Afterwards, they all agreed it had been a bad idea. Laura Resnick’s “The ? Files” is a gloriously convoluted X-Files/Star Trek/Wars/Doctor Who mash-up. “The Mayoral Stakes” by Mike Resnick is about rigging an election, which doesn’t sound that exciting, but the twist at the end is damn near genius. Then there’s “Kaylee the Huntress” (Tim Pratt), in which Kaylee reluctantly answers the heroes call to arms. Finally, I cannot not mention Paul R. Hardy’s “Customer Service Hobgoblin”, in which we find an almost forgotten lesser god working in the call center where now all prayers are received.
Unidentified Funny Objects 5 is available from UFO Publishing, and at most places books can be ordered.
- Book read
- Unidentified Funny Objects 5 (edited by Alex Shvartsman)
- First line
- Chad, the last Peruvian chullachaqui in captivity, pissed in the middle of the grassy field, in full view of the gathering crowd. (from My Enemy, the Unicorn by Bill Ferris